Trench shoring machine



y 1963 E. TORTl 3,089,310

TRENCH SHORING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1960 IN VEN TOR. 73 EMANUEL TORT]ATTORNEY spasms TRENCH SHORING MAKIHINE Emanuel Torti, 1135 PlainfieldSt, .Iohnston, Phi. Filed Feb. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 10,313 4 Claims. (Cl.61-41) The present invention relates to improvements in trench shoringmeans and more particularly to a trench shoring machine.

Heretofore, when a trench or the like has been dug, it

has been necessary to protect the workers therein from cave-ins and thelike, while laying pipe in the trench and before refilling of thetrench. Such additional construction work is costly in material, timeand labor, especially when it is considered that the structure must betorn down preparatory to refilling of the trench.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea shoring machine for trenches which can be repeatedly used so as toeliminate the repeated construction of retaining or shoring walls.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel shoringmachine which can be continuously used in a trench while laying pipetherein, the shoring machine being self-propelled along the length ofthe trench as refilling of the trench succeeds laying of the pipe.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel trenchshoring machine which is adaptable to varying depths.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a noveltrench shoring machine which is of simple construction, easilyfabricated, yet sufiiciently rugged for the type of usage for which itis normally subjected, and yet which is relatively inexpensive whencompared to the costs of erecting and disassembling of conventionalshoring walls.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from thedetailed description to follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of my novel trench shoring machine,showing the normal retracted relationship in full lines and the extendedrelationship in dotted lines;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the machine of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the planeof line 33 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the planeof line 4-4 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the machine of FIGURE 1 with aheight extension box mounted thereon; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional View showing a guide channeland guide rail assembly.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals applyto like parts throughout, and having reference first to FIGURE 1, itwill be seen that I have provided a novel trench shoring machine whichis comprised of a pair of telescopically associated members 10 and '12with means 14 for guidingly coupling the inner and outer telescopicmembers, power operated means 16 for etfecting relative telescoping ofthe members 10 and 12, and control means 18 for controlling operation ofthe power operated means 16 when desired. The machine further includesthe provision of supporting means 24) for the outer member 12.

The outer member 10 is comprised of a top wall 22 joining inclined sidewalls 24 and 2 6 and end walls 28 and 30. The walls 22, 24, 26 and 28are preferably of steel plate which can be welded together or of boltedconstruction if so desired. The end wall 28 is formed with an opening at32 providing access into the machine. The rear wall 30 is formed with anopening correspond- 3-,fl89,3-lll Patented May 14, 1963 2 lug to thesize of the inner member 12 as shown at 34 in FIGURE 3.

The inner member 12 is of generally the same shape as the outer member10, although slightly smaller, and includes a top wall 36 joininginclined side walls 38 and 40, end walls 4-2 and 44, and theintermediate partition 46.

The means 14- for guidingly supporting the inner member 12 fortelescoping movement with respect to the outer member 10 includes thepair of rails 43 and 50 rigidly mounted on the side wall 24 of the outermember 1t) and the pair of rails 5'2 and 54 also rigidly mounted on theside wall 26 of the outer member 10. A pair of railreceiving guidechannels 56 and 58 are mounted on the side wall 38 of the inner member12 while the rail-receiving guide channels as and 62 are rigidly mountedon the side wall 40 of the inner member 12. As shown in FIG- URES 1, 3and 4, the guide channels and the guide rails are longitudinally mountedon their respective walls and rigidly supported in spaced parallelrelation with each guide rail being slidingly received within arespective guide channel for support of the channels and therefor theinner member 12 thereby.

Reference is made to FIGURE 6 which shows the details of the rail andchannel assembly 48, 56. As there shown, the rail 48 is preferablyformed of elongated bar of rigid stock such as steel which is secured tothe side wall 24- by means of a bracket 66 secured to the wall 24 bymeans of the bolts and nuts at 68 at spaced portions along the length ofthe bar 48. The guide channel 56 is of hollow pipe-like form partiallycut away as at 70 and secured to the wall 38 by means of the attachmentbrackets 72 at spaced intervals along the length of the guide channel56. Again, bolts and nuts as at 74 may be utilized.

The power operated means 1 6 for effecting relative telescoping movementbetween the inner and outer members It and 12 includes four cylinders 76, 7 8, and 82. Each of the cylinders is secured to the front wall '28of the outer member 10 by means of a flange as at 84 and the bolts S6therethrough. Because of the required length of the cylinders and thedesired stroke, the cylinder can be mounted with a portion projectingfrom the front wall 28. However, if desired, the cylinders can becompletely mounted within the outer member 14 and connected with someinner portion of the inner member rather than the adjacent end of theinner member so as to give the desired length of stroke to the cylinderand, therefore, the desired amount of extension of the inner member 12with respect to the outer member 10, as will be understood. The cylinder76 has a plunger 88 which is connected to the front wall 42 of the innermember 12, preferably by means of a flange as at 90 in FIGURE 3. Thefour cylinders 76, 78, 8t) and 82 are preferably identical and solocated as to evenly urge movement of the inner member 12 with respectto the outer member 10. Also, the cylinders are double acting. In otherwords, fluid pressure can be fed to the cylinders either to force theplungers out and thus effect extension of the inner member 12 withrespect to the outer member 10, or the plungers can be positivelyretracted to return the inner member to a nested relationship withrespect to the outer member 10.

The control means tor the power operated cylinders 7 6, 78, 89 and 82includes the assembly 18 which is comprised of a control boX 92 whichhas four valves 94, 96, 98 and 100 of identical construction and anothervalve 102 of different construction. The valves 94, 96, 98 and 100 haveoperating handles which can be turned in one direction to feed pressureto a respective cylinder to etiect operation thereof in one directionWhile turning of the handle in the opposite direction feeds pressure toreverse the operation of the piston in the respective cylinder.

Thus, individual control of the cylinders is effected by such valves 94,96, 9S, and 1%. Usually, however, it is desired to simultaneouslyoperate all four cylinders. The large valve 102 couples operation of thefour cylinders.

The master valve 102 has a handle which when moved in one directionfeeds pressure to the four cylinders for operation in one directionwhile movement of the handle in an opposite direction feeds pressure tothe cylinders to reverse the pistons of the cylinders to move in anopposite direction.

The pipes 104 and 1% are provided to connect the valves to the source offluid pressure, preferably hydraulic.

The supporting means 20 for the outer member is comprised of a pair ofskids or runners 1&8 and 110 which are rigidly secured to the bottom ofthe outer member It) and have upturned ends as at 112 and 11'4.

Where a trench is of substantially greater depth than the height of theabove described shoring machine, a height extension box 116 can beprovided. The extension box 11 6 is preferably of hollow formconstructed of side walls 118, 120 and end walls 122 and 124 joined bythe top wall 126. The box 116 has a taper corresponding to the taper ofthe outer member 16 and the box 116 is joined to the outer member W bymeans of a plurality of attachment plates 128 which are secured to thenumber 19 and box 116 by means of a plurality of bolts 130.

The inner member 12 is formed with the partition 46 which has theopening 132 formed therein aligned with the front opening 32 in theouter member 10 and openings at 134 in the front and rear Walls 42 and 4of the inner member 12. Thus, workers have access to the interior of theinner and outer members 19 and 12 for the purpose 1 of laying pipe whilebeing protected by the shoring machine. After a length of pipe has beenlaid, the cylinders of the power operated means 16 are operated by thecontrol means 18 so as to efiect relative extension of the inner andouter members 10 and 12. Inasmuch as the inner member 12 is engagedagainst fill in the trench where the pipe has already been laid, thiswill force the outer member 10 to advance on the runners 20 and themachine will assume the extended relationship shown in dotted lines inFIGURE 1. The workers can then lay further pipe and upon reversedoperation of the power operated cylinders 16, the inner member 12 willbe retracted into the outer member 10 since it is supported by the outermember 10. The thus exposed pipe and trench can be covered and filled aswill be obvious. This procedure is repeated throughout the length of thetrench to the full safety of the workers. It will also be noted that theworkers are protected from inclement weather in addition to thepossibility of cave-ins.

It will be readily understood that the above described trench shoringmachine can be provided with various modifications and additions. Forexample, additional hydraulic cylinders or the like can be provided forthe purpose of lifting, leveling or holding the trench shoring machinewith respect to the trench.

In order that access can be had to the interior of the machine from thetop thereof, I provide a door 136 hinged to the topwall 22 at 138 andhaving a handle 141B, adjacent the end wall 23. Wlhere the extension box116 is provided, the access door 1-42 is located at the opposing end ofthe machine to prevent earth and rock from falling directly through thetwo doors. The door 142 is hinged at 144 and has a handle at 146.

While the cylinders 76, '78, 80 and '82 are shown extending from thefront of the machine, it will be understood that they and the controlbox 18 can be located entirely within the machine.

It is therefore believed that I have provided an improved constructionwhich eliminates the necessity of sheathing trenches and otherwisefulfills the objects hereinbefore enumerated.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than bythe description preceding them, and 'all changes that fall within themetes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well ascojointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embracedby these claims.

I claim:

1. A trench shoring machine comprising a pair of telescopicallyassociated members, each of said members being hollow and having sideand top walls, said walls being rigid plates for engagement with earthforming a trench and protecting the same from cave-ins and the like, oneof said members being an outer member and being adapted to receive theinner member therein in a nested relationship, said members havingopposing wall surfaces, one of said members having guide channels andthe other member having cooperating elements received in said channelsfor guided movement therein, said guide channels and cooperatingelements being on said opposing wall surfaces and disposed to supportsaid inner member by said outer member, a plurality of power operatedcylinders operatively interconnecting said members, and control meansfor selectively simultaneously and individnally effecting operation ofsaid cylinders to effect relative movement of said members to anextended relationship and to return said members to their nestedrelationship, said inner member having an end wall rigidly joining saidside and top walls thereof to provide a back fill, earth engaging wallwhereby upon engagement between said end wall and back fill earth suchrelative movement can be effected.

2. A trench shoring machine comprising a pair of telescopicallyassociated members, each of said members being hollow and having sideand top walls, said walls being rigid plates for engagement with earthforming a trench and protecting the same from cave-ins and the like, oneof said members being an outer member having bottom skids and adapted toreceive the inner member therein in a nested relationship, said membershaving opposing wall surfaces, one of said members having guide channelslongitudinally mounted thereon, the other of said members having guiderails longitudinally mounted thereon and slidably associated Within saidguide channels, said guide channels and cooperating elements being onsaid opposing wall surfaces and disposed to support said inner member bysaid outer member, and power operated cylinders operativelyinterconnecting said members, and control means for selectivelyeffecting operation of said cylinders to alternately effect relativeextension of the members and return to their nested relationship, saidinner member having an end Wall rigidly joining said side and top wallsthereof to provide a back fill, earth engaging Wall whereby uponengagement between said end wall and back fill earth such relativemovement can be effected.

3. A trench shoring machine comprising a pair of telescopicallyassociated members, each of said members being hollow and having sideand top walls, said walls being rigid plates, for engagement with earthforming a trench and protecting the same from cave-ins and the like, oneof said members being an outer member having bottom skids and adapted toreceive the inner member therein 2 in a nested relationship, saidmembers having opposing Wall surfaces, guide channelmeans, guide railmeans, said opposing wall surfaces having said guide channel means andsaid guide rail means cooperatively mounted thereon for relativeslidable movement and to support said inner member by said outer member,said outer member being adapted to receive the inner member therein in anested relationship, and power operated means operativelyinterconnecting said members to efiect relative movement thereof to anextended relationship and to return said members to their nestedrelationship, said inner member having an end wall rigidly joining saidside and top walls thereof to provide a back fill, earth engaging wallwhereby upon engagement between said end wall and back fill earth suchrelative movement can be elfected.

4. A trench shoring machine comprising a pair of telescopicallyassociated members, each of said members being hollow and having sideand top walls, said Walls being rigid plates for engagement with earthforming a trench and protecting the same from cave-ins and the like, oneof said members being an outer supporting member having bottom skids andadapted to receive the inner member therein in a nested supportedrelationship, said outer member having guide rails longitudinallyrigidly mounted on the inside thereof, said inner member havingcooperative guide channels longitudinally mounted on the outside thereofand slidably receiving said guide rails therein to support said innermember thereon, and power operated means interconnecting said members toalternately effect relative extension of the members and return to theirnested relationship, said inner member having an end Wall rigidlyjoining said side and top Walls thereof to provide a back fill, earthengaging wall whereby upon engagement between said end Wall and backfill earth such relative movement can be efieeted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,305,270 Farrar June 3, 1919 1,896,433 Windeknecht Feb. 7, 19332,633,713 Shields Apr. 7, 1953 2,866,320 Bazzell Dec. 30, 1958 2,908,140Everson Oct. 13, 1959

1. A TRENCH SHORING MACHINE COMPRISING A PAIR OF TELESCOPICALLYASSOCIATED MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID MEMBERS BEING HOLLOW AND HAVING SIDEAND TOP WALLS, SAID WALLS BEING RIGID PLATES FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH EARTHFORMING A TRENCH AND PROTECTING THE SAME FROM CAVE-INS AND THE LIKE, ONEOF SAID MEMBERS BEING AN OUTER MEMBER AND BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THEINNER MEMBER THEREIN IN A NESTED RELATIONSHIP, SAID MEMBERS HAVINGOPPOSING WALL SURFACES, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING GUIDE CHANNELS ANDTHE OTHER MEMBER HAVING COOPERATING ELEMENTS RECEIVED IN SAID CHANNELSFOR GUIDED MOVEMENT THEREIN, SAID GUIDE CHANNELS AND COOPERATINGELEMENTS BEING ON SAID OPPOSING WALL SURFACES AND DISPOSED TO SUPPORTSAID INNER MEMBER BY SAID OUTER MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF POWER OPERATEDCYLINDERS OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTING SAID MEMBERS, AND CONTROL MEANSFOR SELECTIVELY SIMULTANEOUSLY AND INDIVIDUALLY EFFECTING OPERATION OFSAID CYLINDERS TO EFFECT RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBERS TO ANEXTENDED RELATIONSHIP AND TO RETURN SAID MEMBERS TO THEIR NESTEDRELATIONSHIP, SAID INNER MEMBER HAVING AN END WALL RIGIDLY JOINING SAIDSIDE AND TOP WALLS THEREOF TO PROVIDE A BACK FILL, EARTH ENGAGING WALLWHEREBY UPON ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID END WALL AND BACK FILL EARTH SUCHRELATIVE MOVEMENT CAN BE EFFECTED.